An Islami Chhatra Shibir activist was killed in clashes with police in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga on Thursday during an alleged attempt to vandalise idols of the Hindu goddess Durga.
Our Correspondent reported that Shibir activist Rafiqul Islam, 23, son of Delwar Hossain from Boalia in Chuadanga sadar, died on the spot after receiving a bullet wound to the head during the unrest.
The incident took place during Shibir’s nationwide demonstrations demanding the release of the convicted or on trial leaders of Shibir and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Witnesses said a procession of around 500 Jamaat and Shibir men, equipped with sticks and brick chips, attempted to vandalise a Durga statue in Darshana Gate bazar area around 3:30pm.
Damurhuda police station Officer-in-Charge Ahsan Habib said the Jamaat activists began pelting stones when police intercepted them.
“Police were compelled to fire 15 rounds from their shot guns, submachine guns and Chinese rifles to dispel the gathering crowd,” the OC said.
Rafiqul Islam was taken from the scene to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead, the OC said.
The locality has been tense since the death of Rafiqul, who was a student of Bakibillah Kamil Madrasa at Badarganj in the same upazila.
Around 30 people, including 10 policemen, were injured in different places of the capital and several other districts on Thursday. Shibir men vandalised vehicles and threw crude bombs at law enforcers, who retaliated with rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and baton charges.
A mobile court sentenced five Shibir men to jail for one year on charges of attacking policemen in the capital’s Motijheel.
Elsewhere in the capital, Jamaat-Shibir men brought out processions, engaged in vandalism, blasted handmade bombs and clashed with law enforcers in Gulshan, Mohakhali and Kamalapur. They also brought out processions at Moghbazar, Mirpur, Jatrabari and other areas.
A procession was brought out near Brac University in Mohakhali, where three handmade bombs were exploded and vehicles vandalised at around 9:30am. Police detained two Shibir men Anisur Rahman and Shah Paran.
Another clash occurred near the Mohakhali flyover when police fired blank shots to disperse the Shibir supporters.
In another flashpoint, Shibir supporters brought out a procession at Kamalapur and hurled several handmade bombs towards law enforcers, who arrested five of them Abdullah Md Shefat, 27, Md Soyeb Ahmed, 18, Md Borhan Uddin, 20, Md Mushfiqur Rahman, 22, and Md Ilias, 21.
Later a mobile court led by executive magistrate Md Abul Kalam sentenced them to jail for one year each.
In Rajshahi, at least 12 people, including three policemen, were injured in clashes between police and Shibir.
During the clashes, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters while the Shibir men threw crude bombs and brickbats at Alokar Mor in the city around 12:30pm.
In Comilla, Shibir men exploded at least six crude bombs and pelted brick chips at police during a clash around 11:30am at Kapuria Potti. A policeman and a pedestrian were injured.
In Jhenidah, two policemen and two others were injured in a clash in front of the Jhenidah Press Club around 10am. Two Shibir men were injured when police fired six shots and three tear gas canisters.
Jamaat-Shibir also brought out processions in Chittagong, Noakhali, Naogaon and some other districts.
